for Alaska either. Is that good business, or greed? And what we did to the Mexicans and Hawaiians for their lands?
2007-11-24 03:01:07 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Other - Politics & Government
I don't know if there is a state out there that doesn't have displacement and/or greed as its foundation. This is why when we start associating morality with states and state policy we are on a slippery slope.
So, no I don't feel guilty, because European settlers had a disproportionate level of hard and soft power and they used it (predictably) to their benefit.
We shouldn't pretend that this application of power was a one-time, fleeting event, there is a reason why we are able to enjoy the standard of living we do in the West, while 2 billion people live on less than $2 a day.
2007-11-24 03:10:37 · answer #1 · answered by Mark P 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Why feel guilty??? Back then $24 dollars was a lot of money! Remember that people worked a full day for a penny back then! So this was months of income for the average worker.
Remember also that land values were different then and that different societies place different values on land. So if you make a good deal, take it. It may be greed in some instances, but the other side of the coin is that the land is too far away or bothersome etc so unload it (russian point?).
For the indians, they did not place a high value on an island as there was limited hunting and growing area available. They had no need of a natural harbor or other such things, so the europeans though looked at it as easier to defend, utilize etc.
Think about it, the stronger nation will always take over the weak when the stronger is on an expansion policy. This has happened with several nations in history.
2007-11-24 03:11:47 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you read your history you will find the Dutch had to negotiate with the Indians twice because they got swindled the first time because the Dutch did the original deal with LONG ISLAND Indians and not the land owners.
Mexico lost a war so the Mexico reference is not valid. You may have a point with Hawaii however the question is do you believe that Aparthied should be a practice of the the government in Hawaii giving special status to the native population?You know little of Russian History and the reason why the sale was important to the Czar Reforms had to be paid for, the serfs were freed in name only and a war was happening at the same time.
2007-11-24 05:23:16 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Um....I'm guessing you've never bought a house before. The seller has an asking price. The buyer makes a ridiculously low offer. Then the seller comes back with a counter offer, and in the end they meet on some common ground. No one forced the Russians, the Indians, the French.....to sell their land. Obviously the price was agreed upon and deemed fair by both parties.
2007-11-24 03:16:39 · answer #4 · answered by smellyfoot ™ 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
the native americans were tricked. they didnt believe you could own the land, so they figured they got a good deal. it was plain old trickery.
the russians, that was stupidity. or ignorance, if you dont know how much its going to be worth, then if you got paid what you asked for, its a good deal.
if you were at the checkout counter and something rang up at 9 dollars but you know it was for 15, are you actually going to point it out and say, oh no, i need to pay you more money for that item!? i think not. you pay people what they want to be paid, that way, everyones happy. if youre unsure, dont sell!
dont feel guilty, feel thrifty!
2007-11-24 03:07:05 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Well we beat mexico in a war which is how we got most the southwestern US.........
What we should feel guilty about is pushing the native americans off their lands to expand the country!They got nothing and most of the western tribes still live in poverty today!
2007-11-24 03:10:02 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
in the first place it was 27 dollars, but the Native Americans who sold it to the Dutch, did not own it,.....they were swindled, the Dutch i mean,.....
2007-11-24 04:43:15 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. I wasn't even close to being alive then. I refuse to apologize for something someone else did.
2007-11-24 03:11:00 · answer #8 · answered by DOOM 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They are some of the things I am thankful for, not guilt ridden.
2007-11-24 03:09:58 · answer #9 · answered by apple juice 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Babe is right. I don't know about you but don't include me in your we idiocy. I had nothing to do with it and don't even care.
WE did to them too bad, Darwin rules.
2007-11-24 03:35:42 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋